Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking in California no longer have to worry about being fired or discriminated against at their workplace under a new state law now in effect.

Carie Charlesworth says she lost her job last year as a teacher at a private elementary school in San Diego after her ex-husband showed up on campus after they had been having some issues.

"And the school went into lockdown, and I lost my job due to that, and my children were forced to leave their school, because they attended that school as well," says Charlesworth.

The new California law wouldn’t apply to Charlesworth, because she taught at a private school. But she says, it's important that victims of domestic violence can speak to their employers about what’s going on.

"It shouldn’t be a silent, dirty secret anymore,” she says.

The measure bans employers from discriminating against victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. It also requires businesses to make what the law calls “reasonable accommodations” for workers who notify employers of their concerns.

That could include implementing safety measures or changing the victim’s work schedule.

A law that extends California’s paid family leave benefit to people caring for grandchildren, grandparents, siblings and in-laws will go into effect July 1. The original law took effect on the same day 10 years ago.

California voters will decide this fall whether some low-level drug and theft offenses should be tried as misdemeanors instead of felonies. Meanwhile, the Legislature and Board of Equalization are pushing policies to help the food industry.